Katoch Shield: Chandigarh, Mohali, Ludhiana log 3-point wins

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25

The teams of Chandigarh, Mohali and Ludhiana claimed the first innings lead to garner three points each in their respective ties of the ongoing Punjab state inter-district cricket championship for Katoch Shield played here today.

In the first match, played at FC Sondhi ground in Jalandhar, the Chandigarh team secured three points against the home team, which attained one point. Chandigarh claimed the lead after scoring a massive 313-run lead over its rivals. Resuming at the overnight score of 67 for 1, the Jalandhar team were bowled out for 256 runs in 97.1 overs.

Opener Pargat Singh maintained a good show by scoring 107 runs, including 10 boundaries and three sixes, off 182 balls while Rahul Sharma (44runs), Mandeep Singh (34) and Abhishek Gupta (22) were the main contributors for the batting side at the end of the day’s play.

For Chandigarh, Gurinder Singh was the leading wicket taker for the team. He sent back five batsman and conceded 100 runs while Arpit claimed 4 for 63.

In the second match played at the cricket stadium in Sector 16, Chandigarh, the Mohali team garnered three points for their first innings lead against Amritsar while the latter logged one point. Resuming at the overnight score of 246 for 3, the Mohali side was bowled out for 332 in 95.2 overs. Maninder Sidhu (34 runs), Mayank Sidana (31) and Kunal Mahajan (23) led the team’s scorecard while Ashwani Kumar (6 for 80) and Sharad Lumba (3 for 53) took wickets for Amritsar.

In reply, the Amritsar side closed its innings on 230 runs for three with openers Shivluv (71 runs) and Rohan Marwaha (50 runs) adding 125 runs for the opening stand. Skipper Sharad Lumba chipped in with 53 runs. For Mohali, Varun Khanna scalped two wickets for 68 runs.

In the low-scoring third match played at DMW ground in Patiala, Ludhiana posted a three-point lead against the home team which scored one point.

In the neck-and-neck game, Ludhiana batted first and could manage to post only 136 runs. However, the team came back strongly to dismiss Patiala for 124 runs in 56.3 overs with Krishan Kumar (4 for 24) and Deepak Bansal (3 for 27) performing at their peak.

Taking a slender 12-run first innings lead, Ludhiana, in the 2nd innings, again posted a minimal total of 129 runs in 65.1 overs with Anil Sihag (66 runs) maintaining his supremacy on the score chart while left arm spinners Rajwinder Gollu and Karan Kaila scalped 8 for 44 and 2 for 43, respectively. Patiala, though looking good to chase the 141-runs target in 17 overs, failed to face the Ludhiana attack and reach the target. They ended up at 135 runs for 7 in 17 overs, falling short of six runs for an outright win. Ravi Inder Singh (45 runs) and Anmol Malhotra (23 runs) were the main scorers for the team while Navendu (3 for 14) and Krishan Kumar (2 for 56) did the damage for Ludhiana.

Scores in brief

Chandigarh (1st innings): 579 for 7 in 168.5 overs 

Jalandhar (1st innings): 256 all out in 97.1 overs 

Mohali (1st innings): 258

all out in 60.3 overs 

Amritsar (1st innings): 208 all out in 65.2 overs 

Mohali (2nd innings): 246 for 3 in 63 overs

Amritsar (2nd innings): 230 for 3 in 55 overs 

Ludhiana (1st innings): 136 all out in 59.2 overs 

Patiala (1st innings): 124 

all out in 56.3 overs 

Ludhiana (2nd innings): 129 all out in 65.1 overs 

Patiala (2nd Innings): 135 for 7 in 17 overs